Log feeder for canting machine

Abstract

The canting machine comprises a pair of log slabbing rotary chipper heads arranged to slab off opposite sides of a log to make a cant which may be subsequently sawed into lumber. The infeed section comprises an endless chain having pairs of saddles spaced different distances apart on the chain to receive logs of different length. One end of the log rests on one saddle and the opposite end rests on the other saddle of the selected pair. In another arrangement, two side-by-side endless chains may be used, one chain carrying a saddle to support the leading end of each log and the other chain carrying a saddle to support the trailing end. A differential drive mechanism for the chains permits adjustment of the spacing of the two saddles to accomodate short and long logs. The outfeed section in either case comprises a pair of guide plates having feed rollers to grip opposite sides of the cant.

Having now described my invention and in what manner the same may be used, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is: 
     
       1. In a canting machine having an infeed section arranged to feed a log lengthwise past at least one chipper head to slab a flat side on a lateral side of the log and an outfeed section for feeding the slabbed log away from said chipper head; means to provide two points of support spaced different distances apart in said infeed section for logs of different lengths, said means comprising a saddle carriage to support the leading end of the log and a saddle carriage to support the trailing end of the log with the log unsupported between said two carriages, said carriages allowing the log to rotate to stable position; a track for said carriages; endless chain means for moving said carriages toward said chipper head without rotational restraint on the log; and means adjacent the infeed side of said chipper head to restrain rotation of the log, said restraining means comprising a vertical knife edge guide wheel arranged to engage the underside of the log and lift the log off an approaching carriage, and a knife edge press wheel arranged to engage the upper side of the log above said guide wheel. 
     
     
       2. A machine as defined in claim 1, including a longitudinal support rail arranged to support the underside of the log behind said guide wheel. 
     
     
       3. A canting machine as defined in claim 1, said endless chain means comprising an endless chain having pairs of said saddle carriages connected thereto at different distances apart. 
     
     
       4. A canting machine as defined in claim 1, said endless chain means comprising a pair of endless chains in side-by-side relation, said saddle carriage for the leading end of the log being connected to one of said chains, said saddle carriage for the trailing end of the log being connected to the other chain, and differential drive means for said chains to vary the spacing between said carriages. 
     
     
       5. A canting machine as defined in claim 1, each saddle carriage having a knife edge V-shaped saddle thereon to support the log. 
     
     
       6. A canting machine as defined in claim 5, said V-shaped saddle having opposite side portions inclined at equal angles from horizontal for aligning a log for passage between a pair of vertical chipper heads on opposite sides of the log. 
     
     
       7. A canting machine as defined in claim 5, said V-shaped saddle having one side portion vertical and an opposite side portion inclined from vertical position. 
     
     
       8. A canting machine as defined in claim 5, said V-shaped saddle having opposite side portions inclined at 45°, and a pair of chipper heads inclined at corresponding angles to form a cant having two adjacent faces at right angles to each other. 
     
     
       9. A canting machine as defined in claim 1 including a pair of said chipper heads on opposite sides of the machine, said outfeed section comprising guide plates and powered rolls in the planes of said chipper heads. 
     
     
       10. A canting machine as defined in claim 1 including a pair of chipper heads inclined at 45° from horizontal to form a cant having two adjacent sides in right angle relation.